The Greek League of 303 BCE

In 338 BCE,
king Philip
II of Macedonia
defeated the army of the Greek towns at Chaeronea (text)
and went to Corinth, where he founded the Greek League. The Greek towns
were to stop fighting each other and share the burdens of a common war
against Persia, in which Philip was to be their general (text;
Eventually, Alexander
the Great was the commander).

In 303, Demetrius
I Poliorcetes, one of the Diadochi, organized
a similar League: this time, the common enemy was the Macedonian ruler
Cassander, and Demetrius was to be the general. There was a body of councilors
(representing the towns, the larger ones having more than one representative)
who had to vote on the League's policy; five presidents oversaw the Council's
meeting.

Part of the League's charter can be read on an
inscription from Epidaurus, which was translated by M.M. Austin.

[...] and it shall not be permissible to exercise reprisals against
ambassadors coming from the Greeks to the councilors, nor against ambassadors
sent by the councilors, nor against men sent out on a military expedition
in the common interest nor against men starting off on their respective
errands, nor against men traveling back to their own cities, nor to kidnap
anyone nor to seize anyone as a security for any reason. If anyone does
this, let the magistrates in each city prevent this and let the councilors
pass judgment.

The councilors shall meet in peace time during the sacred competitions
[1], and in war time whenever it seems expedient to the
councilors [2] and the general left in charge by the kings
for the common defense. The Council shall be in session for as many days
as the presidents of the council announce.

Until the common war [against Cassander of Macedonia]
is brought to a close, meetings of the council shall take place wherever
the presidents and the king or the general appointed by the kings [3]
announce; but when peace is established, wherever the crowned competitions
are celebrated.

The decisions of the councilors shall have the force of law; they shall
transact business when over half of them are present, but not if less than
half attend the meeting.

Concerning decisions reached in the Council, the cities shall not be
allowed to call to account the councilors they have sent.

There shall be five presidents chosen by lot from among the councilors,
when the war has been brought to an end. No more than one president shall
be chosen by lot from any single people or city.

The presidents shall summon the councilors and the secretaries of the
treasury and the assistants, and lay before the council the matters for
deliberation and hand over the resolutions to the secretaries, keeping
for themselves legible copies, and they shall introduce all the lawsuits
and take care that business is transacted in every way as required, and
shall have authority to punish anyone who causes a disturbance.

Anyone who wishes to put forward anything of advantage to the kings
and the Greeks, or to denounce men acting against the interests of the
allies or refusing to comply with resolutions passed, or to communicate
any other business to the councilors, shall register with the presidents,
and they shall lay the matter before the councilors.

The presidents chosen by lot shall render accounts for their actions.
Anyone who wishes to lay a written charge against them shall do so before
the next presidents chosen by lot. When they have received it they shall
introduce it before the councilors at the first session which takes place
after their period in office.

Until the common war has been brought to a close the representatives
of the kings shall always exercise the presidency. If any city does not
send the councilors to the meetings according to the agreement, it shall
pay a fine of two [lacuna] a day for each of these until the councilors
are dismissed, unless a councilor declares on oath that he has been ill.

And if a city does not send whatever military contingent it is instructed
to provide, it shall pay a fine every day of half a mina for every cavalryman,
20 drachmas for every hoplite,
10 drachmas for every light armed soldier and 10 for every sailor, until
the expiry of the period of military service for all the other Greeks [...]

Note 1:
During the Games at Olympia, Delphi,
Nemea, and the Corinthian Isthmus. Everybody who was somebody visited the
Games, and therefore the Games were an excellent occasion for the meeting.